She attended Immaculata Academy, during which time, she became a secular Franciscan. After entering the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph in Hamburg, she continued studies at D"Youville College and had spent a number of years teaching. After completing a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, she had served in various parishes in WNY as a Pastoral Associate developing and training person in Religious Education, RCIA, and coordinated the training of lay parish ministers. As a Catholic Charities outreach worker, ministry in the inter-city provided many opportunities of training and serving others in meeting the wider needs of the poor. In 1990, she completed training a a certified chaplain.

Afterwards, she transferred to the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, serving in parishes in Niagara Falls, New Jersey, and Binghamton and in the capacity of a certified chaplain at St. Vincent's trauma center on Staten Island and chaplain at Lourdes Hospital and St. Louise Manor in Binghamton.